Reichhold Ltd. (Canada) concentrates on two major product lines. As
well as a wide family of polymers for the forest products industry, the
company produces an extensive range of polymers for the coatings and
plastics industries including alkyds, polyurethanes, emulsions,
polyesters, as well as specialty phenolics and aminoresins.

The Canadian operation is only one segment of a global specialty
chemicals organization. Its parent is Reichhold Chemicals Inc., based in
Raleigh, NC, a $1-billion company with more than 5,000 employees around
the world. Reichhold Chemicals is itself a member of a much larger
corporate family - Dianippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan).

The Forest Products Industry

Reichhold is growing to serve the Canadian forest products
industry. This industry plays a very significant role in economies of
Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia as well as in many
communities in other provinces. The company is one of the world's
leaders in specialty polymers for the wood panel industry.

As a leading supplier of phenol formaldehyde polymers to the
waferboard and oriented-strand board industry, Reichhold met a
challenging set of requirements. This is a young industry constantly
searching for product improvements - strength, durability, improved edge
seals, non-skid surfaces, better fire and moisture resistance. Reichhold
is pioneering R&D to produce a variety of surface and core
adhesives, both liquid and powder for the varied needs of mills around
the world.

At the same time, Reichhold is working with waferboard/OSB
producers to improve their cost efficiencies. For example, superior
polymers have helped to speed up press times and production increase.
Reichhold technology has led to more efficient adhesives, which reduce
consumption, thus generating significant cost savings. Board properties
have been improved and work environments made cleaner, with help from
Reichhold.

The Wood Products Industry

Reichhold also plays a major role in the Canadian plywood industry.
Reichhold developed foamable phenolic polymers which have helped plywood
makers to reduce mill costs and waste. Significant technical advances
have been made in low emission UF polymers and more moisture tolerant PF
resins. Delamination problems have been minimized and customer
satisfaction cemented through technological advances shared by Reichhold
and its customers.

Reichhold also offers spraydried UF and PF plywood adhesives. They
are more stable than liquid adhesives and enjoy lower shipping costs.
They are easily reconstituted and can be supplied as ready-to-use
adhesives for use with the addition of catalysts and extenders.

Particleboard and medium density fiberboard industries have a
unique combination of needs and their demands are particularly high.
Their products used in the manufacture of furniture and special
industrial applications must be of uncompromising quality with such
properties as surface smoothness, hardness, uniform density and fastener
holding ability.

Reichhold polymers have helped mills to achieve and maintain these
high standards. A chemistry expertise developed on three continents; a
network of five production plants in Canada responding to market
requirements, and an ongoing commitment to R&D in the polymers of
the future are Reichhold's strengths.

Today, growth opportunities also exist in decorative laminates.
Reichhold offers an extensive line of melamine-formaldehyde polymers for
decorative laminates and papers saturated with these polymers.

Other Markets

Reichhold also serves a wide range of customers as a source of
specialty chemicals for manufacturing of other products. These include
formaldehyde for use in manufacture of polymers, urea-formaldehyde
concentrate for the fertilizer and resin industries, wet strength resins
for the paper-making industry, and specialty urea-formaldehyde,
melamine-formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde resins for a wide range of
uses in both liquid and powder forms.

PHOTO : The decorative laminates market is one that Reichhold sees
as an area of future growth potential

COPYRIGHT 1991 Chemical Institute of Canada
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